Cough-assist systems with humidifier bypass

ABSTRACT

The present technology relates generally to cough-assist devices with humidified cough assistance. In one example, a system includes a cough-assist device having a first phase configured to provide insufflating gas to a patient circuit and a second phase configured to draw exsufflating gas from the patient circuit. A humidifier is disposed between the cough-assist device and a distal end of the patient circuit, the humidifier including a chamber configured to contain heated water and fluidically coupled to the cough-assist device and the patient circuit. The system further includes a bypass configured to (a) direct insufflating gas from the cough-assist device through a first route to the patient circuit such that the insufflating gas is humidified in the chamber, and (b) route exsufflating gas from the patient circuit through a second route to the cough-assist device such that the exsufflating gas bypasses the chamber.

CROSS-CITED TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/188,722, filed Jun. 21, 2016, now pending, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present technology is generally related to humidifiers for ventilation and cough-assist systems.

BACKGROUND

Mechanical ventilators are used to assist with breathing. Conventional ventilators typically drive inspiratory gases including oxygen into the patient's lungs. Many patients who use a ventilator also need other types of assistance related to treating and maintaining their airways and lungs, such as cough assistance. Currently, to receive cough assistance, a patient must be disconnected from the mechanical ventilator and connected to a separate cough-assist device. After cough assistance is performed, the patient must be disconnected from the cough-assist device and reconnected to the mechanical ventilator. Often, the patient airway is also suctioned after the patient has been disconnected from the cough-assist device and reconnected to the mechanical ventilator to remove remaining secretions in the patient airway after the cough assistance. Because this process may be tedious, it is often not performed in a manner that is most advantageous to the patient.

Thus, a need exists for ventilators to provide additional functionality beyond delivering inspiratory gases into the patient's lungs, such as cough assistance and humidification. The present technology provides these and other advantages as will be apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system that includes a ventilator for use by a human patient.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating components of a ventilator assembly of the ventilator of FIG. 1 with a cough-assist valve of the ventilator assembly depicted in a first configuration.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram illustrating the cough-assist valve of the ventilator assembly in a second configuration.

FIG. 3 illustrates a ventilation system including a ventilator with integrated cough-assist functionality, a patient circuit, a humidifier, and a humidifier bypass system.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate various views of a humidifier bypass system.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate cross-sectional views of another embodiment of a humidifier bypass system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Patients on ventilators often need humidification of both the inspiratory gas provided to the patient and insufflation gas for assisted cough therapy (also referred to as mechanical insufflation-exsufflation). Equipping a ventilator with cough-assistance capabilities eliminates the need to change the patient circuit to transition between ventilation and cough therapy. However, the present inventors have noted that the high exsufflation flows during cough assistance that pass through the humidifier chamber cause water to travel back to the ventilator. To alleviate this problem, the present technology is directed to a humidifier bypass that permits insufflating gas to pass through a humidifier chamber to the patient and routes exsufflating gas back to the ventilator without passing through the humidifier chamber.

The purpose of the ventilator bypass is to redirect the exsufflation flow around the humidifier chamber to prevent the exsufflation flow from blowing water in the chamber back to the ventilator. The bypass can be a passive accessory that connects to standard commercially available humidifier chambers. The bypass can remain in line between the ventilator and the patient following cough therapy. When ventilation resumes, the inspired gas is delivered through the humidifier chamber as if the bypass were not present.

In addition, the bypass may also be used by ventilator patients with standalone cough-assist machines. Typically, the patient circuit is disconnected at the patient to perform cough therapy. Dedicated patient tubing on the cough machine is then connected to the patient. With invasive ventilation, patients can experience discomfort when manipulating tubing so close to the tracheostomy site and there is some risk of accidental decannulation. And, in this scenario, humidified gas is no longer delivered to the patient until ventilation resumes and the humidifier is back in line. Humidifier bypass systems in accordance with embodiments of the present technology enable the patient circuit to be disconnected anywhere between the ventilator and humidifier rather than disconnecting at the patient. Humidified gas is accordingly delivered during insufflation, but the bypass prevents ingress of water from the humidifier into the cough-assist machine during exsufflation.

Further specific details of several embodiments of the present technology are described below with reference to FIGS. 1-5B. Although many of the embodiments are described below with respect to devices, systems, and methods for ventilation with humidified cough assistance, other embodiments are within the scope of the present technology. Additionally, other embodiments of the present technology can have different configurations, components, and/or procedures than those described herein. For example, other embodiments can include additional elements and features beyond those described herein, or other embodiments may not include several of the elements and features shown and described herein.

For ease of reference, throughout this disclosure identical reference numbers are used to identify similar or analogous components or features, but components identified by the same reference number are not necessarily identical. Indeed, in many examples described herein, the identically numbered parts are distinct in structure and/or function.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system 10 that includes a ventilator 100 with integrated humidified cough assistance in accordance with the embodiment of the present technology. Several general aspects of the system 10 will be described initially to provide an understanding of the components related to embodiments of the humidified bypass devices of the present technology. The ventilator 100 may be configured to provide both traditional volume-controlled ventilation and pressure-controlled ventilation. The ventilator 100 has an optional multi-lumen tube connection 103, a main ventilator connection 104, and a patient oxygen outlet 105. The system 100 also has a patient connection 106 (e.g., a tracheal tube, a nasal mask, a mouthpiece, and the like) and a patient circuit 110 that fluidically couples the patient connection 106 to the main ventilator connection 104 and/or the patient oxygen outlet 105.

The patient circuit 110 may be an active patient circuit or a passive patient circuit. Optionally, when the patient circuit 110 is an active patient circuit, the patient circuit 110 may include one or more ports 111 configured to be connected to the optional multi-lumen tube connection 103. The port(s) 111 allow one or more pressure signals 109 to flow between the optional multi-lumen tube connection 103 and the patient circuit 110. The pressure signals 109 may be gas(es) obtained from a fluid (and/or gas) source for which a pressure is to be measured. The gas(es) obtained are at the same pressure as the fluid (and/or gas) source.

The system 100 further includes humidifier 141 in line with the patient circuit 110 and the main ventilator connection 104. In some embodiments, the patient circuit 110 includes a tube or conduit that extends between the humidifier 141 and the main ventilator connection 104 in addition to a tube or conduit that extends between the humidifier 141 and the patient connection 106. The system 100, or more specifically the humidifier 141, can be equipped with a bypass 142 as described in more detail below.

The main ventilator connection 104 is configured to provide gases 112 that include air 114 optionally mixed with oxygen. While identified as being “air,” those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that the air 114 may include ambient air or pressurized air obtained from any source external to the ventilator 100. The gases 112 may be inspiratory gases for the inspiratory phase of a breath or insufflation gases for the insufflation phase of cough assistance. The main ventilator connection 104 is configured to receive gases 113, which may include exsufflation gases exhaled by the patient 102 during an exsufflation phase of cough assistance.

The air 114 is received by the ventilator 100 via a patient air intake 116. Oxygen that is optionally mixed with the air 114 may be generated internally by the ventilator 100 and/or received from an optional low pressure oxygen source 118 (e.g., an oxygen concentrator), and/or an optional high pressure oxygen source 120. When the oxygen is generated internally, the ventilator 100 may output exhaust gases (e.g., nitrogen-rich gas 122) via an outlet vent 124. Optionally, the ventilator 100 may include a low pressure oxygen inlet 126 configured to be coupled to the optional low pressure oxygen source 118 and receive optional low pressure oxygen 128 therefrom. The ventilator 100 may include an optional high pressure oxygen inlet 130 configured to be coupled to the optional high pressure oxygen source 120 and receive optional high pressure oxygen 132 therefrom.

The patient oxygen outlet 105 is configured to provide doses or pulses of oxygen 140 to the patient connection 106 via the patient circuit 110 that are synchronized with the patient's breathing. Unlike the gases 112 provided by the main ventilator connection 104, the pulses of oxygen 140 do not include the air 114.

The gases 112 and/or the pulses of oxygen 140 delivered to the humidifier 141 and the patient circuit 110 are conducted thereby as inspiratory or insufflation gases 108 to the patient connection 106, which at least in part conducts those gases into the patient's lung(s) 143. Whenever the patient exhales during the exhalation phase of a breath or exsufflates during an exsufflation phase of cough assistance, exhaled gases 107 enter the patient circuit 110 via the patient connection 106. Thus, the patient circuit 110 may contain one or more of the following gases: the gases 112 provided by the ventilator 100, the pulses of oxygen 140, and the exhaled gases 107. For ease of illustration, the gases inside the patient circuit 110 will be referred to hereafter as “patient gases.”

The ventilator 100 can optionally include a suction connection 150 configured to be coupled to an optional suction assembly 152. The ventilator 100 may provide suction 154 to the optional suction assembly 152 via the optional suction connection 150. The suction assembly 152 may be configured to be connected to the patient connection 106, a suction catheter (not shown) positionable inside the patient connection 106, and/or a drain (not shown).

The ventilator 100 can additionally include an optional nebulizer connection 160 configured to be coupled to an optional nebulizer assembly 162. The ventilator 100 may provide gases 164 (e.g., the air 114) to the optional nebulizer assembly 162 via the optional nebulizer connection 160. The optional nebulizer assembly 162 may be configured to be connected to the patient circuit 110. However, this is not a requirement. Optionally, the ventilator 100 may include an outlet port 166 through which exhaust 167 may exit from the ventilator 100.

The ventilator 100 may be configured to be portable and powered by an internal battery (not shown) and/or an external power source (not shown) such as a conventional wall outlet. The ventilator 100 further includes a ventilation assembly 190, a user interface 170, an oxygen assembly 172, a control system 174, and conventional monitoring and alarm systems 176. The control system 174 receives input information 196 (e.g., settings, parameter values, and the like) from the user interface 170, and provides output information 198 (e.g., performance information, status information, and the like) to the user interface 170. The user interface 170 is configured to receive input from a user (e.g., a caregiver, a clinician, and the like associated with a patient 102) and provide that input to the control system 174 in the input information 196. The user interface 170 is also configured to display the output information 198 to the user.

The ventilation assembly 190 may receive one or more control signals 192 from the control system 174, and the ventilation assembly 190 may provide one or more data signals 194 to the control system 174. The ventilation assembly 190 may also receive the pressure signals 109 from the patient circuit 110 via the multi-lumen connection 103. The oxygen assembly 172 may receive one or more control signals 178 from the control system 174, and the oxygen assembly 172 may provide one or more data signals 180 to the control system 174. The control signals 192 and 178 and the data signals 194 and 180 may be used by the control system 174 to monitor and/or control internal operations of the ventilator 100.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic diagrams illustrating an embodiment of the ventilation assembly 190, the humidifier 141, and a bypass system 242. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the ventilation assembly 190 includes a cough-assist valve 204, an accumulator 202 and an internal bacteria filter 230. The cough-assist valve 204 is connected to (a) the accumulator 202 by a conduit or flow line 214, (b) the outlet port 166 by a conduit or flow line 215, and (c) the main ventilator connection 104 by a conduit or flow line 273. FIG. 2A depicts the cough-assist valve 204 in a first configuration for normal breathing and the insufflation phase of cough assistance, and FIG. 2B depicts the cough-assist valve 204 in a second configuration for the exsufflation phase of cough assistance.

Referring to FIG. 2A, in the first configuration, the cough-assist valve 204 receives a gas 252 from the accumulator 202 (via the flow line 214), and outputs the gas 252 to the main ventilator connection 104 (via the flow line 273). The gas 252 flowing through both the blower 222 and the cough-assist valve 204 during the inspiratory phase of a breath or the insufflation phase of a cough-assist maneuver performed by the ventilator 100 (see FIG. 1 ). During normal breathing/ventilation and the insufflation phase of cough assistance, the cough-assist valve 204 remains in the first configuration. Typical pressure ranges used to support normal breathing and ventilation can be from about 10-40 cm H₂O during inspiration and from about 0-10 cm H₂O during expiration. During cough assistance, the cough-assist valve 204 is in the first configuration (FIG. 2A) during the insufflation phase and the second configuration (FIG. 2B) during the exsufflation phase. Typical pressure ranges used provide cough-assist functionality are generally higher than for normal breathing/ventilation, such as from about 30-70 cm H₂O during insufflation and from about negative 30-70 cm H₂O during exsufflation.

The cough-assist valve 204 has a valve-to-blower outlet 206, a blower-to-valve inlet 208, an air intake 210, an exhaust outlet 212, and an aperture 213. The aperture 213 is connected to the main ventilator connection 104 by the flow line 273. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the cough-assist valve 204 is in the first configuration, the air intake 210 is in fluid communication with the valve-to-blower outlet 206, and the blower-to-valve inlet 208 is in fluid communication with the aperture 213. Further, the exhaust outlet 212 is closed such that both the valve-to-blower outlet 206 and the air intake 210 are in fluid communication with the aperture 213 via only the blower 222. Thus, the gas 252 may flow into the air intake 210, through a portion of the cough-assist valve 204 to the valve-to-blower outlet 206, and into the blower 222. The gas 252 exiting the blower 222 flows into the blower-to-valve inlet 208, through another portion of the cough-assist valve 204, and into the aperture 213. The aperture 213 is connected to the flow line 273, which conducts the gas 252 to the main ventilator connection 104.

During inspiration or insufflation, the gas 252 passes through the main ventilator connection 104, across the bacterial filter 230 and to the bypass system 242. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A, the bypass system 242 has a first valve 244 coupled to the humidifier 141 and a second valve 246. During normal breathing/ventilation and insufflation, the gas 252 flows through a first valve 244 and into the humidifier 141 where it is humidified. The gas 252 then is passed through the output of the bypass system 242 and to the patient circuit 110. The second valve 246 of the bypass system 242 prevents the gas 252 from passing directly to the patient circuit 110 without first going through the humidifier 141. The operation of the bypass system 242 is described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 3-5B.

Referring to FIG. 2B, in the second configuration, the cough-assist valve 204 receives exsufflation gases 253 via the flow line 273 and outputs the exsufflation gases 253 (as the exhaust 167) to the outlet port 166 via the flow line 215. The exsufflation gases 253 flow through both the blower 222 and the cough-assist valve 204 during an exsufflation phase of cough assistance performed by the ventilator 100 (see FIG. 1 ).

As shown in FIG. 2B, when the cough-assist valve 204 is in the second configuration, the air intake 210 is closed, and the blower-to-valve inlet 208 and the exhaust outlet 212 are in fluid communication with the aperture 213 only via the blower 222. Further, the aperture 213 is in fluid communication with the valve-to-blower outlet 206, and the blower-to-valve inlet 208 is in fluid communication with the exhaust outlet 212. Thus, the exsufflation gases 253 flow into the aperture 213, across a portion of the cough-assist valve 204, to the valve-to-blower outlet 206, and into the blower 222. The exsufflation gas 253 exiting the blower 222 flows into the blower-to-valve inlet 208, through a portion of the cough-assist valve 204, and exits the cough-assist valve 204 though the exhaust outlet 212. The exhaust outlet 212 is connected to the flow line 215, which conducts the exsufflation gas 253 to the outlet port 166.

During exsufflation, the gas 253 passes through the patient circuit 110, through the second valve 246 of the bypass system 242, and across the bacterial filter 230 before reaching the main ventilator connection 104. The second valve 246 of the bypass system 242 permits the gas 253 to pass to the main ventilator connection 104, while the first valve 244 of the bypass system 242 prevents the gas 253 from passing back through the humidifier 141. For example, the first valve 244 closes during exsufflation flow to prohibit the gas 253 from passing back through the humidifier 141 to the main ventilator connection 144. As a result, the high velocity exsufflation gas 253 cannot entrain liquid from the humidifier 141 into the flow of gas 253 back into the ventilator 100. The operation of the bypass system 242 is described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 3-5B.

FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 including the ventilator 100 with integrated cough-assist functionality that is coupled to a patient circuit 110 and a humidifier 141 equipped with an embodiment of the bypass system 242. As illustrated, this embodiment of the humidifier 141 and the bypass system 242 are in line with the patient circuit 110. The patient circuit 110 includes a first tube 301 connected to the bacterial filter 230 and one side of the bypass system 242, and a second tube 303 connected to another side of the bypass system 242. A distal end 305 of the second tube 303 can be connected to the patient connection 106 (FIG. 1 ).

The humidifier 141 includes a base 307 having an integrated heater and a chamber 309 configured to retain water. In operation, the base 307 heats the water in the chamber 309 to produce water vapor. As a result, inspiration and insufflation gases passing through the chamber 309 are humidified before being delivered to the patient.

The bypass system 242 is in fluid communication with the chamber 309 as well as the first tube 301 and the second tube 303 of the patient circuit 110. In particular, the bypass system 242 includes a first conduit 311 that extends between the chamber 309 of the humidifier 141 and the first tube 301 of the patient circuit 110. The bypass system 242 additionally includes a second conduit 313 that extends between the chamber 309 of the humidifier 141 and the second tube 303 of the patient circuit 110. The bypass system 242 can also include a bridge 315 that is fluidically coupled to and extends between the first conduit 311 and the second conduit 313 at a position spaced apart from the chamber 309.

The first valve 244 is disposed in the first conduit 311 in a position below the intersection of the bridge 315 and the first conduit 311. The first valve 244 can be a one-way valve configured to open when the pressure is higher in the first tube 301 than the chamber 309, but close when the pressure in the chamber 309 is higher than in the first tube 301. As such, during inspiration or insufflation, gas flows from the ventilator 100, from the first tube 301 of the patient circuit 110 through the first conduit 311 and through the first valve 244 into the chamber 309 of the humidifier 141. However, during exhalation or exsufflation, gas is prevented from flowing back through the chamber 309 and up the first conduit 311.

The second valve 246 is disposed in the bridge 315 of the bypass system 242. The second valve 246 can be a one-way valve configured to open towards the first conduit 311 such that, during exsufflation, gas from the patient flows from the second tube 303 of the patient circuit 110 through the second conduit 313, through the bridge 315, and through the second valve 246 towards the ventilator 100. Thus, the opposite one-way directions and the positions of the first and second valves 244 and 246 direct the high-velocity exsufflation gas flow to the ventilator 100 without passing through the humidifier 141.

The first and second valves 244, 246 can be many different types of valves. For example, one or both of the valves 244, 246 can be ball check valves, diaphragm check valves, leaf valves, swing check valves, tilting disc check valves, clapper valves, or any other suitable valve that allows flow in one direction while disallowing flow in the opposite direction. The first and second valves 244, 246 can be passive valves configured to open in the presence of flow in one direction without the need for actuation. In other embodiments, one or both of the valves can be active valves that are electronically controlled to open or close in response to signals communicated from a controller (see FIG. 5 ).

The system 300 provides a first flowpath 317 through the bypass system 242. The first flowpath 317 receives gas flowing from the ventilator 100 through the first tube 301 of the patient circuit 110 and into the first conduit of the bypass system 242. The first valve 244 opens in the presence of gas flowing in the direction of the first flowpath 317 while the second valve 246 is closed. The first flowpath 317 therefore continues through the first valve 244, through the chamber 309 of the humidifier 141, and into the second conduit 313 of the bypass system 242. The first flowpath 317 delivers gas into the second tube 303 of the patient circuit 110 where it then passes through the distal end 305 of the patient circuit 110 and to the patient. In this first flowpath 317, the gases (e.g., gases provided by the ventilator 100 either in breathing assistance (inspiration) or cough-assistance (insufflation) mode) are humidified before reaching the distal end 305 of the patient circuit 110 and being delivered to the patient.

The system 300 also provides a second flowpath 319 through the bypass system 242. The second flowpath 319 receives gas flowing from the distal end 305 of the patient circuit 110 through the second tube 303 of the patient circuit and into the second conduit 313 of the bypass system 242. The first valve 244 remains closed in the presence of gas flowing in the direction of the second flowpath 319 while the second valve 246 is open. As a result, the second flowpath 319 continues through the bridge 315 and out through the first conduit 311 of the bypass system 242. The second flowpath 319 delivers gas into the first tube 301 of the patient circuit 110 where it then passes through the bacterial filter 230 and into the ventilator 100. In this second flowpath 319, the gases (e.g., exsufflation gases drawn from the patient during cough assistance) do not pass through the chamber 309 of the humidifier 141. As a result, the risk of liquid from the chamber 309 being passed through the first tube 301 of the patient circuit 110 into the bacterial filter 230 and/or the ventilator 100 is reduced.

FIGS. 4A-4D illustrate various views of an embodiment of the bypass system 242 coupled to the chamber 309 of a humidifier. FIG. 4A is a perspective view, FIG. 4B is a partially exploded view, FIG. 4C is a side view, and FIG. 4D is a cross-section taken along line 4D-4D in FIG. 4C. Referring to FIGS. 4A-4D together, the bypass system 242 is engaged with the chamber 309, and the chamber 309 can be configured to be coupled to a standard commercially available humidifier base. Once coupled to the humidifier base, liquid within the chamber 309 can be heated. The chamber 309 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A-4D includes a body 401 with a first stem 403 and a second stem 405 projecting away from the body 401. The first conduit 311 of the bypass system 242 engages the first stem 403 of the chamber 309, and the first valve 244 is within the first conduit 311 such that gas passing through the first conduit 311 and into the body 401 of the chamber 309 through the first stem 403 must pass through the first valve 244. As described above with respect to FIG. 3 , the first conduit 311 of the bypass system 242 connects to the first tube 301 of the patient circuit 110, which delivers gases to and from the ventilator 100.

The second conduit 313 of the bypass system 242 couples to the second stem 405 of the chamber 309. As noted previously, the second conduit 313 of the bypass system 242 connects to the second tube 303 of the patient circuit 110, which connects to the patient connector and delivers gases to and from the patient. The bridge 315 extends between the first conduit 311 and the second conduit 313 of the bypass system 242 and the second valve 246 is in the bridge 315.

The bypass system 242 can also have a re-filling port 407 coupled to the second stem 405 of the chamber 309. The re-filling port 407 can share a portion of tubing with the second conduit 313 such that liquid can be provided to the chamber 309 through the re-filling port 407. In other embodiments, the chamber 309 can be filled through a separate port.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate cross-sectional views of another embodiment of a humidifier bypass system 501 in accordance with the present technology. The bypass system 501 can be generally similar to the bypass system 242 system illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D, except that the bypass system 501 includes a single controllable valve 503 coupled to a controller 505 integrated in the control system 174 described above with respect to FIG. 1 . The valve 503 can be moved between a first position (FIG. 5A) and a second position (FIG. 5B) in response to signals received from the controller 505. In the first position (FIG. 5A), the valve 503 allows inspiration or insufflation gases to pass through the first conduit 311, through the first stem 403, and into the chamber 309 where the gases are humidified before exiting via the second stem 405 and the second conduit 313 to the patient. In the second position (FIG. 5B), the valve 503 allows exsufflating gases to pass through the second conduit 313 across the bridge 315 and out through the first conduit 311 without passing through the chamber 309. When the valve 503 is in the second position, liquid in the chamber 309 is blocked from flowing back to the ventilator. The single controllable valve 503 therefore provides similar functionality to the two-valve system described above with respect to FIGS. 3-4D.

The above detailed descriptions of embodiments of the technology are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise forms disclosed above. Although specific embodiments of, and examples for, the technology are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the technology, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while steps are presented in a given order, alternative embodiments may perform steps in a different order. The various embodiments described herein may also be combined to provide further embodiments.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments of the technology. Where the context permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or singular term, respectively.

Moreover, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in reference to a list of two or more items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of the items in the list. Additionally, the term “comprising” is used throughout to mean including at least the recited feature(s) such that any greater number of the same feature and/or additional types of other features are not precluded. It will also be appreciated that specific embodiments have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the technology. Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the technology have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure and associated technology can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein. 

We claim:
 1. A system comprising: a cough-assist device having a first phase configured to provide insufflating gas to a patient circuit and a second phase configured to draw exsufflating gas from the patient circuit; a humidifier positionable between the cough-assist device and a distal end of the patient circuit, the humidifier comprising a chamber fluidically coupleable to the cough-assist device and/or the patient circuit and configured to contain water and/or water vapor; and a bypass having a first conduit coupled to the chamber, a second conduit coupled to the chamber, and a bridge extending between the first conduit and the second conduit, wherein, when the humidifier is fluidically coupled to the cough-assist device and/or the patient circuit, the bypass is configured to— route insufflating gas from the cough-assist device to the patient through the first conduit, the chamber, and the second conduit such that the insufflating gas is humidified in the chamber, and route exsufflating gas from the patient circuit toward the cough-assist device through at least a portion of the first conduit, the bridge, and at least a portion of the second conduit such that at least a portion of the exsufflating gas bypasses the chamber.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the cough-assist device comprises a ventilator configured to provide breathing assistance in a first mode and cough assistance in a second mode.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the bypass comprises: the first conduit is configured to fluidically couple the cough-assist device to the chamber; the second conduit is configured to fluidically couple the chamber to the distal end of the patient circuit.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the bypass further comprises: a first valve disposed in the first conduit at a position between the chamber and the bridge; and a second valve disposed in the bridge at a position between the first conduit and the second conduit.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the first valve is a one-way valve configured to open towards the chamber in the presence of insufflating gas, and wherein the second valve is a one-way valve configured to open towards the first conduit in the presence of exsufflating gas.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the bypass comprises: a first valve configured to (a) open in the presence of insufflating gas so that insufflating gas from the cough-assist device passes through the chamber and (b) close in the presence of exsufflating gas to prevent exsufflating gas from exiting the chamber; and a second valve configured to (c) open in the presence of exsufflating gas from the patient circuit so that at least the portion of the exsufflating gas passes to the cough-assist device without passing through the chamber and (d) to close in the presence of insufflating gas.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the patient circuit includes a first lumen extending between the bypass and the cough-assist device and a second lumen extending between the bypass and the distal end of the patient circuit, and wherein both insufflating gas and exsufflating gas are routed through at least a portion of the first lumen and the second lumen.
 8. A system comprising: a cough-assist device having an insufflating module configured to provide an insufflating gas flow to a patient circuit and an exsufflating module configured to draw an exsufflating gas flow from the patient circuit; a humidifier configured to be fluidically coupled to the cough-assist device and the patient circuit, the humidifier having a chamber configured to contain water and/or water vapor; and a bypass having a first flow path between the cough-assist device and the chamber, a second flow path between the chamber and the patient circuit, and a third flow path between the first and second flow paths, wherein, when the humidifier is fluidically coupled to the cough-assist device and the patient circuit, the bypass is configured to— route insufflating gas through the chamber via the first and second flow paths, and route at least a portion of the exsufflating gas through the third flow path such that it bypasses the chamber.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the bypass includes a valve system, and wherein the valve system is configured to— block the third flow path during insufflation so that the insufflation gas flow passes through the chamber via the first and second flow paths, and open the third flow path and block the first flow path during exsufflation such that at least the portion of the exsufflation gas flow passes through the third flow path and bypasses the chamber.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the valve system comprises: a first passive valve in the first flow path between the chamber and an intersection between the first flow path and the third flow path; and a second passive valve in the third flow path.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first passive valve comprises a first check valve configured to open towards the chamber during insufflation, and wherein the second passive valve comprises a second check valve configured to open towards the first flow path during exsufflation.
 12. The system of claim 8 wherein the humidifier is configured to be fluidically coupled to a portion of the patient circuit that receives both insufflating gas and exsufflating gas.
 13. The system of claim 8 wherein the bypass is coupled to a portion of the patient circuit that receives both insufflating gas and exsufflating gas.
 14. The system of claim 8 wherein the patient circuit includes a first lumen extending between the bypass and the cough-assist device and a second lumen extending between the bypass and the distal end of the patient circuit, and wherein both insufflating gas and exsufflating gas are routed through at least a portion of the first lumen and the second lumen.
 15. A humidifier assembly, comprising: a chamber configured to retain liquid therein; a heater configured to deliver heat to liquid within the chamber; a first conduit extending from the chamber and configured to fluidically couple a cough-assist device to the chamber; a second conduit extending from the chamber and configured to fluidically couple the chamber to a patient circuit; and wherein the humidifier assembly is configured to: (i) route insufflating gas received from the cough-assist device through the first conduit, the chamber, and the second conduit to the patient circuit when the humidifier assembly is fluidically coupled to the patient circuit; and (ii) route at least a portion of the exsufflating gas received from the patient circuit from the second conduit to the first conduit without passing through the chamber when the humidifier assembly is fluidically coupled to the patient circuit.
 16. The humidifier assembly of claim 15, further comprising a bridge connecting the first conduit and the second conduit.
 17. The humidifier assembly of claim 16, further comprising a first valve disposed in the first conduit at a position between the chamber and the bridge, wherein the insufflation flowpath passes through the first valve, and wherein the exsufflation flowpath does not pass through the first valve.
 18. The humidifier assembly of claim 17, further comprising a second valve disposed in the bridge at a position between the first conduit and the second conduit, wherein the exsufflation flowpath passes through the second valve, and wherein the insufflation flowpath does not pass through the second valve.
 19. A method for providing cough assistance to a patient, the method comprising: delivering insufflating gas from a cough-assist device to a patient via a patient circuit having a first conduit, a second conduit, and a humidifier between the first conduit and the second conduit, wherein delivering the insufflating gas comprises passing the insufflating gas through the first conduit, the second conduit, and a chamber in the humidifier, thereby humidifying the insufflating gas before it reaches the patient; and withdrawing exsufflating gas from the patient via the first conduit and the second conduit of the patient circuit, wherein the humidifier remains connected to the first conduit and the second conduit as the gas is withdrawn, and wherein at least a portion of the exsufflating gas bypasses the humidifier.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein withdrawing exsufflating gas comprises providing a pressure between negative 30-70 cm H₂O in the patient circuit.
 21. The method of claim 19 wherein withdrawing the exsufflating gas comprises passing at least a portion of the exsufflating gas through a bypass coupled to the humidifier.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the bypass comprises: a first valve configured to (a) open while delivering the insufflating gas so that the insufflating gas from the cough-assist device passes through the chamber in the humidifier and (b) close in the presence of exsufflating gas to prevent exsufflating gas from exiting the chamber; and a second valve configured to (a) open while withdrawing the exsufflating gas from the patient circuit so that at least the portion of the exsufflating gas passes to the cough-assist device without passing through the chamber and (b) to close in the presence of insufflating gas. 